Feature. Life. Diverse. Value. Interests.

Feature. Life. Diverse. Value. Interests.

One of the questions of those who find me or my website interesting is why I blog in Filipino. Perhaps, some of them thought that I’m comfortable to write in English or I’m just limiting myself to reach wider audience. Well, their opinions are true. But to give you more ideas bakit ako nagba-blog sa Tagalog o Filipino, here are my reasons?

Mabuhay Restop’s I Am Filipino Art Exhibit

Because of WordPress/ and its setting in Filipino

(Cropped) My 2010 photo with Mr. Matt Mullenweg, CEO of automatic and creator of WordPress.com, at WordCamp, College of St. Benilde

Somewhere in time (charr) I personally met and heard from Mr. WordPressMatt Mullenweg (2 times) that he’s wondering why most Filipino bloggers prefer to post articles in English. If I remember it correctly, Mullenweg said that he understand that Philippines is one of the largest English speaking countries, but they still assume/expect Filipinos to blog in their native language. In this way, blogging community becomes bigger and reach specific readers.

Ever since na nalaman ko na may Filipino setting ang wordpress.com, ‘yon na ang setting ko in my first ever blog Kwentotpaniniwalanihitokirihoshi.wordpress.com. Through that I found out the translations of website (pooksasapot) and email (sulatroniko), other Filipino bloggers, their new posts, and who have top posts.

That setting also, it’s easier to do bloghopping, link building, and maki-tsika with other Filipino bloggers wherever they are. In my first few years in blogging, mostly mga personal bloggers ang ka-blog ko and the feel was I’m only exchanging ideas and realizations in life. Siguro that’s also my first taste of social networking and content marketing which very valuable for me who only contented to write in diary before.

Ad platforms, PR Firms, and companies also work with content creators in Filipino

Before I was also frustrated kasi hinihindian ako ng Google Adsense. They had this rule that majority of my posts should be in English. Medyo na-hurt ako and I wonder why they don’t cater Filipino contents eh mayroon din namang Filipino readers.

I admit that I also tried to blog in English for the sake of monetization. It came even to a point that I had to decide whether to blog for money or blog for passion. I always ended up choosing the latter no matter what. By 2012, Ambient Digital talked with me (in person) to become part of their platform and by 2015 or 2016, I discovered that Google Adsense also serves Filipino sites like mine. They approve my application I think just more than a month. So I’m more than satisfied because I made the right decision to blog in my native language.

If we also notice there a lot Filipino sites and publishers/ content creators (including local vloggers) who earn money que balbal na Tagalog pa ang kanilang main language. All along what really relevant is the basic tip “content is king” and how you will reach certain audience. Mag-a-adjust din ang big companies like Google depending on market clamors, local/ international.

Chacha Cañete at Johnson’s Baby Powder Playtime Factory

Because Blogging in Filipino is niche blogging already

I have two inspirations behind this post. These two were the most recent persons who asked me the same question in my title and also inquired about my experiences. Gusto nila rin malaman kung kumikita ako sa ganito. Bahala kayo mag-isip hehehe.

One of them shared that he’s searching for bloggers who write in Filipino at nakita n’ya ako na isa o tanging may ganitong klaseng site. That’s the point already, madali n’ya ako nakita because I’m part of the unique / few online creators who blog in Filipino. Pinoy readers is my niche market and I only recognized it not long time ago.

‘Yong ibinahagi ng Peso Sense ang post ko na di ko alam.

I’m okay if in case they’re not convinced sa aking reasons. Ako naman ay tinanong lang at sumagot, hindi ko nilalako na mag-blog ang sinuman in Filipino. From time to time, I also blog in English for some reasons and I also encountered visitors who commented why my particular posts are not written in English. The answer hindi s’ya kabilang (but I offered to translate) sa main target readers ko– Filipinos all over the world.

There already many blogs / sites out there that already informative and entertaining. Practically speaking, mahirap ng maki-share sa readers nila so I am serving those who prefer to read Filipino contents. Iba rin ang saya if you get to know Filipinos from different places and interests.

The following sample of posts/comments serve as inspirations and proof that I am serving my niche market:

Because it’s Me blogging for my fellow Filipinos

Mayroon akong regular readers na nasundan ang journey ko from the beginning. Kapag sila ang nagko-comment medyo conscious ako because I know that they’re all very good in English- tipong Grammar Nazi level. Pero conscious lang ako if my post is in English. So why I have to experience this misery?

Bukod din sa nosebleed na ako, my nuances come naturally if I write in my native language. And come to think of it, who will what I mean in things like “charot,” “eddie,” “hello,” “mabuhay!” “gogo sago,” and “hohoho” except my Fellow Filipino millennials and readers? Who will be interested and understand my stories about OFWs, Isawan, and penchant of Anime and Korean series?

When Union of Filipinos with Foreign Spouses finds my post inspiring

Because I see potentials and limits in it

It’s hard to continue a career that you think there’s no growth. On the other hand, it’s also easy to be lost in the wilderness if you don’t set boundaries.

to advocate

In terms of topics- I acknowledge that my site is like a chopsuey because I blog about business, personal finance, travel, entertainment, arts and culture, and other interests (for me Hoshilandia is a personal lifestyle blogzine). I don’t limit myself to post articles under one category or it will kill my productivity (but I will try to organize stuff). Nakikita ko rin ang maraming ideas and opportunities sa pagba-blog sa Tagalog as well as its limitations.